PICO California Action Fund

Leadership Development and Training ProgramThe PICO California Action Fund (Action Fund) will provide leadership development and training for grassroots community leaders, clergy, tribal elders, and staff members of its local network organizations. The Action Fund will provide consultation to leaders, clergy, and staff of local network organizations in the areas of staff development, leadership development, peer coaching, issue development, and organizational planning, with the goal of strengthening these organizations to better serve the community. The Action Fund will also provide board training sessions for local network organization boards, offering training in fiscal oversight and management, organizational leadership, and other critical skills for nonprofit board members. The Action Fund will also hold local, regional, and statewide training sessions to help clergy better lead their congregations to address community issues. These leadership development and training services are provided to selected organizations with missions that are aligned with that of the Action Fund with the goal of increasing the capacity of these organizations so that they may better serve all Californians and help to create systemic change to better serve the most vulnerable. Leadership development and training equips under-resourced individuals and organizations with the tools to become architects of their own destiny, thereby improving the social and economic conditions of their lives and communities. These leadership development and training program activities will be carried out by Action Fund staff members and by staff members of other local network organizations. These activities will take place throughout California in the twenty-one counties in which the Action Fund anticipates operating and will be funded through individual donations and foundation and government grants. Approximately thirty-five percent (35%) of the Action Fund's total time will be spent on these leadership development and training program activities.Advocacy and Communications Support and Activities The Action Fund will provide advocacy and communications support to local and statewide issue campaigns to improve public education, hold government accountable to best serve the people, increase the availability of affordable housing, expand access to quality health care, make neighborhoods safer, and welcome immigrants. The Action Fund will work with local network organizations to analyze and understand the impact of federal, state, county, and city policies on local communities. The Action Fund will also provide advocacy and communications support to coordinate network-wide issue campaigns designed to educate the community and public officials about critical state issues that impact the lives of people in local communities. Engaging in advocacy activities, and providing advocacy and communications support to other organizations, will equip under-resourced communities and nonprofits with the tools to understand the structural drivers of inequity and execute community organizing issue campaigns to improve racial and economic equity.These advocacy and communications activities will be carried out by Action Fund staff members and by staff members of other local network organizations. These activities will take place throughout California and will be funded through individual donations and foundation and government grants. Approximately thirty-five percent (35%) of the Action Fund 's total time will be spent on these advocacy and communications activities. GrantmakingIn furtherance of its exempt purposes, the Action Fund plans to make grants to other organizations recognized as exempt under Section 501(c)(4) that are operated for consistent purposes and strive to improve racial and economic equity in California. The Action Fund intends to provide both general support grants and specific project grants, as appropriate. Its grantmaking priorities will be developed over time by its Board of Directors, officers, and staff. The Action Fund will use written grant agreements in making grants to other organizations.These grantmaking activities will be carried out by Action Fund staff members. These activities will take place throughout California and will be funded through individual donations and foundation grants. Approximately ten percent (10%) of the Action Fund 's total time will be spent on these grantmaking activities.Data Analysis and ResearchThe Action Fund will collect data on grassroots leadership development, communications activities, nonpartisan voter engagement movements, and other civic engagement efforts. It plans to conduct research projects to advance the organization's understanding of the most effective ways to improve community organizing efforts, engage in nonpartisan voter engagement, and build a stronger leadership base. The Action Fund plans to share the results of its research and data analysis with its network affiliate organizations and other mission-aligned organizations to improve the field of community organizing and to evolve California's social justice ecosystem.These data analysis and research activities will be carried out by Action Fund staff members. These activities will take place throughout California and will be funded through individual donations and foundation grants. Approximately ten percent (10%) of the Action Fund's total time will be spent on these data analysis and research activities.Administration and FundraisingIn furtherance of its exempt purposes, the Action Fund will engage in general administrative activities related to its operations, as well as fundraising activities. These administrative and fundraising activities will be conducted by the Action Fund 's staff and volunteer Directors and officers. Approximately ten percent (10%) of the Action Fund 's total time will be spent on general administration and fundraising.